Streamlining Industrial Data Collection

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We’re delighted to share our latest interview with Steve Sponseller, Senior Director, Business Development & Americas Channel for Kepware - a recent TPN partner who streamlines and automates industrial data collection across all machines and device types in a heterogeneous manufacturing environment.  

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What are the customer needs or problems that Kepware solves?

Industrial companies use many different types of machines and equipment to produce their products.  These machines are often controlled by automation devices like PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), RTUs (Remote Terminal Units), and so forth.  The vendors of these PLCs (Rockwell, Siemens, GE, Mitsubishi, etc.) often utilize a proprietary protocol to communicate to these devices, which is fine for users of their software.  

Problems arise when a company has multiple different kinds of devices, each with their own software, which requires a unique deployment, configuration, and maintenance.

However,  problems arise when a company has multiple different kinds of devices, each with their own software, which requires a unique deployment, configuration, and maintenance.  Issues also surface when software applications want access to this industrial data.  The proprietary software of many of these devices was not intended to share data, resulting in a laborious process to create interfaces.   For companies  looking to digitally transform themselves, managing data access becomes a frustrating, cumbersome, and sometimes impossible task:

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This is where Kepware comes in. With over 150 different drivers to communicate with all the various automation devices, Kepware normalizes the various languages (i.e., protocols) of the shop floor.  Industrial data collection becomes exponentially more straightforward and streamlined.  

Kepware normalizes the various languages (i.e., protocols) of the shop floor.

‍How do your solutions provide unique value?

For many years, Kepware primarily unlocked machine data for OT (Operational Technology) applications like HMIs (Human Machine Interface), allowing an operator to interface with the machine and SCADAs (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) which enabled plant managers and others to monitor operations and run some metrics.  With Industry 4.0 and IIoT, Kepware is now providing this same machine data to IT applications, some of which are hosted in the cloud, empowering companies to do advanced analytics and other functions with this data. 

By decoupling the data acquisition from the applications that need the data, Kepware becomes a one-stop shop for collecting data across all machines and device types in a heterogeneous manufacturing environment.  

By decoupling the data acquisition from the applications that need the data, Kepware becomes a one-stop shop for collecting data across all machines and device types.

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What kind of success are your customers achieving?

Kepware software solutions improve operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and increase profitability in industrial settings where automation is at play.  The more disparate the PLCs and applications that need their data, the greater the need for Kepware to be the industrial data aggregator.

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What are the most important factors influencing manufacturing strategy and operations?

Competition in the truly global marketplace has forced companies to operate as efficiently as possible, while also being kind to the environment and  employees.  Reducing downtime and scrap with increased utilization of assets ultimately improves profitability, which is good for companies’ shareholders. 

What is the value of being a member of the Tetra Partner Network?

We’re delighted to formalize our relationship with TetraScience given the work that we’ve already done to support and ensure the success of our common customers.

Together we can provide mutual, positive benefit to customers, backed by a strong integration agreement. We’re delighted to formalize our relationship with TetraScience given the work that we’ve already done to support and ensure the success of our common customers. We also welcome TetraScience as part of Kepware’s Technology Partner Program.